Shooter Unintentionally Drops the Ball
 

A1 goes up for a shot. As he's going up, the ball slips from his hands and goes straight up in the air.

1. Can the shooter catch it?
2. If so, is he restricted in any way once he catches it as far as dribbling? Is it treated like any other missed shot?

It's a fumble, not a rebound. He may recover. If he's already used his dribble, he cannot dribble again.

If A-1 catches the ball and then returns to the floor I would call it a traveling violation.

Can you not catch a fumble?

In college, this is explicitly allowed. There was a case play released on it early this season.

In high school, it is not explicitly addressed, as far as I know. But I would agree with Snaqwells that it is legal.

you can catch a fumble if both feet are on the floor. Not sure this is a fumble as he is an airborn shooter. it's a travel because he left his feet

I disagree. To be an airborne shooter, you have release the ball on a try. That didn't happen here.

What's the rule reference for this restriction?


No, he's not an airborne shooter. He never shot the ball. The rule says nothing about an airborne shooter fumbling, because it's inherently impossible; you can't fumble a ball that's been released for a shot.

Based on what?

I disagree. It's traveling.

Another old thread....argued <i>ad infinitum, ad nauseum</i>......to no definitive agreement.

I believe there is a situation in the High School case book in regards to this. I will look it up when I get home. But off the top of my head I believe it is to the effect of, If you believe that this is an attempt at a try, then yes he can catch it and reestablish a pivot foot but can not dribble.

Case book play 4.44SitB is what you're looking for. The player can dribble again though. New player and team control was established. The case play is only valid for a "try" though, not a "fumble".

Let me change this slightly. A1 picks up his pivot foot, ready to shoot but fumbles instead. Can he put down his pivot foot and then recover the ball without traveling? Can he recover the ball and then put down his pivot foot?

I too recall that discussion. I believe that Bob Jenkins posted an interp from 2000-01 which stated that this was a traveling violation under NFHS rules.

BTW, I had argued that it was a legal play.

So Bob, how about posting ALL of the interps from that year in a separate thread? Please! :) Thanks.

Okay, I think I see how this is traveling. Since a fumble is not one of the allowed actions a player may take after lifting his pivot foot, it should be a travel. However, I don't think it depends on whether the fumbler is the first to recover the ball after he lands. It's either a travel right away, or she can recover it without penalty.